“Did you really conspire with others to defame me?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“!!”
As Cox spoke the truth under the influence of The Mark of Binding, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
Especially Count Kazar was deeply shocked.
His most trusted servant had conspired against his own son.
“Why would you do that?”
“I, I… I was commanded to.”
Cox struggled against the curse in vain, screaming as he spoke the truth.
“Commanded?”
“I… I knew of wrongdoings I committed against the Kazar family, and I was blackmailed by someone who knew about them. They ordered me to ruin the young master, from his childhood, a long time ago.”
Each revelation was more shocking than the last.
Cox had committed various wrongdoings against the Kazar family over the years and was being blackmailed by someone who had ordered him to ruin Christian?
“If you’re referring to your wrongdoings, you mean the embezzlements over the years.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
This was a fact already known to them.
The most crucial truth remained.
“Who is it?”
“Who gave you those orders?”
Butler Cox trembled.
“Please… if I tell you… I will… die…”
Despite his resistance, it was futile.
“Speak, now.”
With that command, Butler Cox’s mouth opened.
“It was Lord Ashed.”
“What?”
In an instant, Christian froze.
Not just him; the entire room stiffened, almost turning pale.
It was a name shocking enough to evoke such a reaction.
“Lord Ashed de Barron, the heir of the Dark Magus Family’s main family.”
* * *
The room fell silent.
Ashed de Barron.
A name known to everyone present.
The greatest genius among the next generation of the Dark Magus Family.
He was the closest to becoming the ‘Grand Prince’ among the five princes vying for succession.
Such a significant figure had ordered the ruin of Christian?
“It doesn’t make sense.”
But it was the truth, extracted under the influence of The Mark of Binding.
It wasn’t a lie.
Cox collapsed to the floor, his face drained of life.
“Lord Ashed is a fearsome person… I… am sure to be killed by him now…”
His look was one of utter terror.
People realized once again.
It wasn’t false. It was real.
But why?
‘Lord Ashed is a far greater being compared to young master Christian.’
In comparison, one was like the bright moon in the sky, and the other mere crumbs on the ground.
Nevertheless, the reason wasn’t important.
‘What happens now?’
‘This will cause a tremendous ripple.’
The legitimate heir of the Dark Magus Family’s family had conspired against Christian, and now this fact was revealed to all.
This put not Ashed but the Kazar family in a difficult position.
The Kazar family was merely a branch family, while Ashed was the most likely successor to lead the main family.
If relations between the two soured, it would be the Kazar family who would suffer.
‘How will the Count handle this?’
It was a predicament in every sense.
Then, breaking the silence, a sound was heard.
Step,
Christian walked towards Butler Cox, who was sitting collapsed on the floor.
All eyes turned to Christian, and a shocking event unfolded.
Slash!
Christian raised his sword and struck down Butler Cox’s head.
It happened so suddenly that no one could react.
Blood splattered, and the beheaded Cox’s head fell to the floor.
Christian, his body drenched in blood, turned to his father.
“I have executed the criminal on behalf of the Count’s authority.”
“…….”
A heavy silence followed.
A few quick-witted individuals realized why Christian had hurriedly struck down Cox’s head.
But no one dared to speak out, and all eyes remained on Count Kazar and Christian.
After a moment, Count Kazar spoke with a sigh.
“…Let’s talk privately, son.”
* * *
Christian headed to the Count’s office.
Once the two were alone, the Count sighed deeply.
“Sit down. Would you like something to drink?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Yes, it’s not really the time to relax and drink.”
Count Kazar looked at Christian.
“Today’s events, no, including your recent reckless behavior, was all that intended by you?”
“Yes, it was. I suspected Butler Cox and deliberately exposed vulnerabilities to trap him. I apologize for not informing you in advance.”
“No, it’s not that.”
Count Kazar shook his head.
Apologies indeed.
It was a significant accomplishment.
If it weren’t for Christian, they might never have uncovered the butler’s true nature.
“Here, this is what I’ve managed to gather on the embezzlement committed by the butler. He had been embezzling very cleverly.”
The information had been obtained with the help of his maid, Banshee.
Banshee, a ghost who had lived in the Kazar estate like a native for many years, went unnoticed and secretly stole the budget ledgers that the butler had been handling each night.
Christian had scrutinized the ledgers, spotted anomalies, and verified the suspicious parts using Theren, who had the authority of an heir.
“…Remarkable.”
Count Kazar was greatly impressed by the contents of the documents Christian handed him.
As Christian had just explained, the butler had been embezzling very cunningly, deceiving Count Kazar and others.
But Christian had uncovered and investigated everything.
“When did you study accounting?”
“I haven’t. I just glanced over it and could tell. As you know, I happen to be a genius.”
Count Kazar chuckled.
‘Is this possible because he’s a genius? Isn’t this beyond that level?’
How much more was his son going to surprise him?
Lifting his head, he saw the confident and imposing figure of Christian.
It was real. His son had truly changed from the reckless man he used to be.
But that was not all.
He had become a completely different person, continually accomplishing unbelievable feats.
Thinking this, a fierce anger surged within him.
‘How dare they conspire against my son! That cursed Ashed, that young scoundrel!’
Moreover, according to Cox’s words, it seemed Ashed had influenced Christian’s reckless behavior since childhood.
The main culprit who ruined his son.
He could never forgive that.
“Why did you do it?”
“What?”
“Why did you cut off Cox’s head to cover up this matter? We did nothing wrong.”
“Do you think I cut off Cox’s head to cover up this matter?”
“Isn’t it? By killing Cox, the witness is gone, making it difficult to hold Ashed accountable. Of course, considering the position of the collateral Kazar family, it might be wise to cover it up, but I do not agree.”
Count Kazar spoke with intense anger.
“How dare you commit such an act. I have no intention of letting Ashed get away with this.”
Christian was slightly taken aback by his father’s unexpected fierce anger.
‘Was he always this character? Or perhaps, is this a natural reaction?’
Count Kazar was inherently a traditional mage. He valued strength above all and despised sneaky tactics.
And from his actions so far, it was clear he cared deeply about his son.
“Do you not realize that it’s not enough to hold him accountable?”
“It doesn’t matter. If it comes to it, we’ll declare independence and sever ties with the main family.”
Christian was stunned by the Count’s reckless words.
It didn’t seem like just talk.
‘Breaking ties isn’t an option. My primary goal is to take over the Dark Magus Family.’
“Please calm down, father.”
“Calm down? After they conspired against you?”
Count Kazar frowned and spoke in a gruff voice.
“I cannot just calm down.”
“…….”
A deep denial was felt in his anger.
From what he had felt before, Count Kazar, though a mage, seemed truly like a father, even more than Christian’s real father in his previous life.
So, Christian didn’t dislike Count Kazar. In fact, he quite liked him.
‘Thinking of him as a real father might be too much, but becoming close might not be bad.’
Nevertheless, he spoke.
“I never said I would just let this matter go.”
“But just now.”
“I cut off Cox’s head, yes. Do you think that was to cover up this incident? Absolutely not.”
Christian spoke with a firm voice.
“On the contrary, it was for vengeance.”
“!!”
Christian twisted his lips into a smirk and continued.
“Let me ask you one thing. If Cox had been alive, how would things have proceeded?”
“They would have transported him back to the main house for investigation.”
“And what conclusion would have been reached? Could they have charged him?”
Count Kazar could not answer.
Christian changed his question.
“Is the current acting head of the Dark Magus Family, who serves is the family lord, a person of integrity?”
Count Kazar was silent for a moment.
“No, he is not. He would likely reach a conclusion favorable to Ashed to protect the family’s honor.”
“But now that Cox is dead, what happens?”
Christian smiled.
“Even if they wanted to fabricate evidence to cover it up, they can’t anymore. The only witness, Cox, is already dead.”
Keeping Cox alive would have been equivalent to leaving an official pardon available.
After being transported back to the main house, they could have simply coerced him to change his testimony. Ashed would have been declared innocent and the Kazar family’s position would only become more difficult.
“But with him dead, the situation has changed. Ashed will forever be tainted with the dishonor of trying to defame me.”
Of course, with the witness dead, it’s impossible to formally charge him.
But many heard Cox’s testimony. He spoke the truth under the influence of The Mark of Binding.
The stain of attempting to horrifically defame his own kin will continue to haunt him.
“And such disgrace will be a significant weakness for Ashed. Especially since he’s vying for the head’s position and the succession battle is not over yet, Ashed is in a much more difficult situation than you think.”
Count Kazar’s eyes widened as he grasped Christian’s meaning.
“So, you’re using this incident to create problems for Ashed’s succession?”
“Bingo. Exactly.”
Count Kazar was impressed by his son’s words.
It was the most realistic and effective method of revenge.
“Then who should we support as the heir? The first princess, who is next in line after Ashed?”
For context, Ashed is the second prince.
“No.”
“The first prince then? That won’t do. The first prince is a madman obsessed with blood.”
“Not the first prince either.”
“Then who?”
“I will do it myself.”
“…What?”
Count Kazar asked, not understanding his son’s meaning.
“I mean that I will become the successor of the Dark Magus Family myself.”
